Protective cover for cosmetic applications

ABSTRACT

A wearable protective article includes a wide band adapted to fit snugly about a user’s head, and a face shield formed conically about a lower edge of the wide band wherein the face shield is secured in a forward and angled position by the wide band to protect the user’s facial area cosmetics from environmental elements including water. Further, a hair cover may be added to the article to protect the user’s hair styles or as a fashion statement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

The present invention claims priority to a U.S. Provisional Pat. Application, Serial No. 63/238,763 entitled Eyelash Makeup and Hair Protector filed on Aug. 30, 2021 disclosure of which is included herein at least by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of cosmetics including synthetic applications and pertains particularly to methods and apparatus for protecting the integrity of cosmetic applications from the elements including water.

2. Discussion of the State of the Art

In the field of cosmetics, applications thereof may be designed and intended to last as a cosmetic application for more than one day and in some cases an extended period. Cosmetic applications may include makeup including bases coatings, mascara applied to natural eyelashes, and top coatings. Cosmetic applications also include synthetic applications such as synthetic eyelash extensions, coatings and adhesive (glue or magnetic) affixed eyelashes, hair extensions and the like.

One challenge to maintaining the integrity of cosmetic applications including hair applications is having to stay away from events or activities that might compromise the integrity of such applications. This may include restrictions when swimming, showering, being out in a rain storm, and so on.

Currently, there are hair covers that enable hair to remain dry during exposure to water and goggles that one can wear to cover eyelashes and eye makeup whether organic or synthetic. However, these devices may lack ergonomic comfort from the perspective of a user. Goggles and face masks may not account for the length of some cosmetic eyelash extension applications and may require adjustment and fitting requirements in addition to being uncomfortable to wear and limiting a user’s perception of the environment.

Therefore, what is needed is a protective article that may be worn to keep cosmetic applications including synthetic applications dry and unperturbed as to form, length, and or shape.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a wearable protective article is provided and includes a wide band adapted to fit snugly about a user’s head, and a face shield formed conically about a lower edge of the wide band. The face shield is secured in a forward and angled position by the wide band to protect the user’s facial area from environmental elements including water. In one embodiment, the wide band is a one piece circular elastic band fitting snugly against the user’s head. In one embodiment, the wide band has a length having two ends that are fastened together to make the band adjustable relative to snug fit.

In one embodiment, the wide band is between one half inch and two inches wide. In one embodiment, the face shield is attached to the lower edge of the wide band and extends outward and downward therefrom. In one embodiment, the face shield is removable from the wide band and re attachable to the wide band. In a preferred embodiment, the face shield is translucent enabling the user to see through it.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the protective article of claim 1 further includes a hair cover attached peripherally about the upper edge of the wide band. In a variation of this embodiment, the protective cover is attached to the wide band using snap hardware and is removable from the band. In one variation of the embodiment, the hair cover is fabricated from a water proof material. According to another variation of the embodiment, the hair cover is a full fit cover extending out several inches and wherein extra cover material is tucked into the wide band when not extended. In still another variation to the embodiment, the hair cover is a tight nylon mesh having elasticity. In a further variation, the hair cover is a tight swim cap.

In one variation of the embodiment, the wide band, face shield, and hair cover are permanently assembled. In this embodiment, the article is disposable after a period of use. In one variation to the embodiment, the head cover is treated to be water proof. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the protective article further includes a metallic edging material extending along the lower edge of the face shield providing structural support to the face shield. In this embodiment, the material edging is bendable and holds form. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one additional face shield is provided and may be used to replace another face shield of differing size and function. In a further embodiment, at least one additional hair cover is provided and may be used to replace another hair cover of differing size and function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view depicting a protective face cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the protective face cover of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a top view of the protective face cover of FIG. 1 with a hair cover attached.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a protective face cover according to an alternate embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a protective face cover with a hair cover according to the embodiment of FIG. 3 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In various embodiments described in enabling detail herein, the inventor provides a unique protective cover for protecting the integrity of cosmetic applications including synthetic enhancements like synthetic lashes and hair extensions. A goal of the present invention is to provide a wearable cover that protects the cosmetic applications of a user without obstructing the perception of the user or contribute to discomfort to the user during activities such as swimming, showering, or transiting outdoors during inclement weather. The present invention is described using the following examples, which may describe more than one relevant embodiment falling within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view depicting a protective face cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Protective cover 100, in this embodiment, includes a waterproof shield attachment band 106 adapted to be worn around a user’s head. Attachment band 106 may be fabricated of an elastic material and may be adjustable. In a preferred embodiment, attachment band 106 is referred to as a wide band and may be of a width between about one half of an inch up to two inches 2.0 inches. Attachment band 106 fits around a user’s head and may be secured via elastic or other size adjustment means, such as hook and loop material, snaps, or other common band adjustment means that are well known in the art. In this embodiment, attachment band 106 is fastened and adjusted via hook material 105 and loop material 104. Other means may be applied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In one embodiment, attachment band 106 is a one piece elastic band having no adjustment or fastening utilities.

Attachment band 106 may support a face shield 102 adapted to protect eyelashes. Face shield 102 may extend at least out and down over the area of a user’s eyes and in a preferred embodiment, makes no contact with a user’s face. Shield 102 is attached to and extends below band 106 a distance sufficient to cover at least an upper portion of a user’s face that supports eyelashes. It is noted herein that cosmetically treated natural eyelashes as well as synthetic eyelashes are quite a bit larger than natural eyelashes with no cosmetic applications or treatments. Suffice to say that not only is each eyelash fiber thicker, but they may extend quite a bit away from a user’s eye and face, especially when synthetic lashes are applied. Shield 102 may be manufactured from a translucent polymer material to produce a “see through” plastic shield enabling the user to visualize the environment safely while the cosmetic eyelash application is protected from falling or splashed water.

In one embodiment, face shield 102 may be sewn on to or glued to a lower edge of attachment band 106. In one embodiment, face shield 102 is removable from attachment band 106 using hook and loop, snaps, or other known methods of attaching articles together. In one embodiment, shield 106 may extend below and around the center front of attachment band 106 to just above each ear of the user protecting the cosmetic applications of the user from each side as well as from the front of face cover 100. In this embodiment shield 102 would be angled to cover, but not actually touch ones baby hairs (applied to skin), eyelashes, and makeup. In a preferred embodiment, shield 102 is attached to band 106 and extends from a lower edge surface of the band 106 out and downward at an angle from about 90 to 140 degrees. In one embodiment, the angle may be adjustable such as by bending or forming depending on what cosmetics of the user need to be protected by the shield. A hair cover is not depicted in this embodiment but may be attached to the opposite side of attachment band 106 for the purpose of adding a user’s hairstyle to the cosmetics protected from the elements including water.

In this embodiment, shield 102 includes a stiff but pliable edging material 101 that extends the entire lower edge of plastic shield 102 on both sides of the shield. Edging material 101 may provide structure for shield 102. Edging material 101 may be flexible and be enabled to be “formed” for example one may bend it or shape it with more curve, less curve, different angles, etc. if needed. In this embodiment, edging material 101 may be fabricated from a metallic material that holds form like aluminum, tin, or another bendable resilient material.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the protective face cover of FIG. 1 . In this view the face cover 100 is flipped over and depicts the same elements introduced and described in FIG. 1 above. In one embodiment, face shield 102 may be heat welded on to or glued onto a lower edge of attachment band 106. In another embodiment, face shield 102 may be removable from attachment band 106 where the attachment means is hook and loop, snaps, and other known methods of attachment. Shield 102 may extend all around the band to just behind each ear. In one embodiment, shield 102 extends downward past the user’s ears. In another embodiment, the shield may be shorter and stay above the user’s ears. In one embodiment, more than one face shield of different angle and extension length might be provided so a user may swap face shields to protect certain cosmetic applications. Generally speaking the shield will extend outward and downward from the lower edge of the attachment band where the user wears the band also at an angle that supports the extension and clearance afforded by the face shield.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the protective face cover of FIG. 1 with a hair cover attached. In this embodiment a hair cover 107 is provided and adapted to be attached to attachment band 106 on the edge opposite of the face shield attachment. Hair cover 107 may also be referred to in layman’s terms as a shower cap. Hair cover 107 may be fabricated from a light flexible material that is water proof or is treated with water proof material. Hair cover 107 may be woven from a nylon material or other materials that may be deemed waterproof or may be treated to provide water proof protection like polyester, laminated cotton /poplin, oilcloth, polyester fleece, microfiber, wool, vinyl, p leather, light-weight polymer, or densely woven branded fabrics.

Hair cover 107 may be assumed to be a full fitted hair cover wherein extra material is disposed, folded, or tucked into the attachment band 106 and may be retracted therefrom or otherwise caused to balloon out from the shield attachment band 106 to facilitate accommodation of a user’s hair styling extending from the user’s scalp up to several inches or more to cover, thereby protecting many differing hairstyles from the elements including water without disrupting the shape or form of those hairstyles.

In one embodiment, an absorbent material (not illustrated) like a terry cloth strip, for example, may be installed inside the seam of hair cover 107 or within attachment band 106 to absorb any water drops not prevented by shield 102 or hair cover 107. In an alternative embodiment, a visor rim (not illustrated) may be added to the shield side of band 106 and may extend out orthogonally from the face shield similar to a cap visor. In one embodiment, hair cover 107 may be detachable and disposable along with face shield 102 and a visor leaving the band by itself.

It may be noted that the protective article featuring the face shield, the hair cover, and an optional visor enables a modern fashionable women or man to protect and preserve the integrity of all aspects of hair, makeup, eyelashes and other cosmetic or fashion applications while showering, walking in the rain or other misty environments that may otherwise disrupt fashioned hair, makeup, and eyelashes. One aspect considered by the inventor is a new fashion trend wherein fine short hairs along a hairline of a person are fashioned in a shape or pattern in a semi-permanent manner, such as with hairspray, hair gel, etc. These are referred to in the art as “baby hairs” and may be accentuated along the entire hairline thus requiring protection. The baby hairs may be natural grown hair, hair attachments, stickers, tattoos or may be drawn at the hairline. It is also noted that hair cover 107 and attachment band 106 may be provided in a variety of different colors, designs including logos, as desired.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a protective face cover 400 according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Face cover 400 is depicted fitted on the head of a mannequin simulating being worn by a user. Face cover 400 includes face shield 102 with edge material 101 extending forward and downward to cover critical areas of the user’s face that require protection. In this embodiment, a mesh head cover 401 is provided and attached to the side of attachment band 106 opposite of shield 102. A mesh cover like mesh cover 401 may be similar to a hair net and may include structural seaming like seam 402. Hair cover 401 in the form of a hair net may be fabricated of a nylon material that may be elastic.

Mesh cover 402 may be an alternate option to wearing a hair cover if the user has no need to protect the hair. Attachment band 106 snugly fitted and face shield 102 properly formed will protect the user’s facial area from splashing water whereby the user does not require hair protection. In a variation to this aspect, hair cover 401 may be a waterproof cover that remains tight over the head of the user like a swimming cap and may protect the user’s scalp and shorter hair wherein the full fitted version of a hair cover is not required.

As can be seen in this view, attachment band 106 may be worn at an angle on the user’s head extending along the forehead to the front of or just behind the ears, and along the base of the head where the back of the head meets the neck just above the hairline. In this embodiment shield 102 would be angled to cover, but not actually touch ones baby hairs, eyelashes and makeup. The band may be adjusted tightly enough that water may not seep below where the band is touching the user.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a protective face cover 500 with a hair cover similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3 . In this view, band 106 is fitted at about a 45 degree angle from horizontal. Face shield 102 extends entirely about the attachment band 106. In this application, hair cover 107 is voluminous when extended and may protect a wide variety of hair styles where shaping, lifting, etc. has been done wherein the user desires to protect the shape and elevation of the hair style. In this embodiment the face shield 106 may resemble a lower section of a cone extending outward and downward over the user’s face and head over the ears. In this embodiment, face shield 106 does not come down past the user’s nose, however in other embodiments a face shield may extend further than a user’s nose. It is noted that in one embodiment, the entire protective article including attachment band 106, hair cover 107, and shield 102 may be permanently assembled in a molding operation, a heat welding operation, or by permanent gluing operation, wherein the article is intended to be used as constructed repeatedly for a period and then disposed of if torn damaged or otherwise faded, etc. That does not preclude an embodiment where all of the parts of the protective article may be assembled and disassembled, and wherein certain parts may be swapped for similar parts having different colors and or differing designs and functions, for example, a mesh hairnet verses a water proof hair cover.

It will be apparent with skill in the art that the protective article of the present invention may be provided using some or all the elements described herein. The arrangement of elements and functionality thereof relative to the protective article of the invention is described in different embodiments each of which is an implementation of the present invention. While the uses and methods are described in enabling detail herein, it is to be noted that many alterations could be made in the details of the construction and the arrangement of the elements without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. The present invention is limited only by the breadth of the claims below. 

1. A wearable protective article comprising: a wide band adapted to fit snugly about a user’s head; and a face shield formed conically about a lower edge of the wide band; wherein the face shield is secured in a forward and angled position by the wide band to protect the user’s facial area cosmetics from environmental elements including water.
 2. The protective article of claim 1, wherein the wide band is a one piece circular elastic band fitting snugly against the user’s head.
 3. The protective article of claim 1, wherein the wide band has a length having two ends that are fastened together to make the band adjustable relative to snug fit.
 4. The protective article of claim 1, wherein the wide band is between one half inch and two inches wide.
 5. The protective article of claim 1, wherein the face shield is attached to the lower edge of the wide band and extends outward and downward therefrom.
 6. The protective article of claim 5, wherein the face shield is removable from the wide band and re attachable to the wide band.
 7. The protective article of claim 1, wherein the face shield is translucent enabling the user to see through it.
 8. The protective article of claim 1, further including a hair cover attached peripherally about the upper edge of the wide band.
 9. The protective article of claim 8, wherein the protective cover is attached to the wide band using snap hardware and is removable from the band.
 10. The protective article of claim 8, wherein the hair cover is fabricated from a water proof material.
 11. The protective article of claim 8, wherein the hair cover is a full fit cover extending out several inches and wherein extra cover material is tucked into the wide band when not extended.
 12. The protective article of claim 8, wherein the hair cover is a tight nylon mesh having elasticity.
 13. The protective article of claim 8, wherein the hair cover is a tight swim cap.
 14. The protective article of claim 8, wherein the wide band, face shield, and hair cover are permanently assembled.
 15. The protective article of claim 14, wherein the article is disposable after a period of use.
 16. The protective article of claim 8, wherein the head cover is treated to be water proof.
 17. The protective article of claim 1 further including a metallic edging material extending along the lower edge of the face shield providing structural support to the face shield.
 18. The protective article of claim 17, wherein the material edging is bendable and holds form.
 19. The protective article of claim 1, wherein at least one additional face shield is provided and may be used to replace another face shield of differing size and function.
 20. The protective article of claim 1, wherein at least one additional hair cover is provided and may be used to replace another hair cover of differing size and function. 